• Care Home
  • Care home

Hazlemere Lodge

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Barn Lane, Hazlemere, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP15 7BQ (01494) 767800

Provided and run by:
Ambient Support Limited

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Hazlemere Lodge on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.

This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.

If you have concerns about Hazlemere Lodge, you can give feedback on this service.

7 October 2019

During a routine inspection

About the service

Hazlemere Lodge is a residential and nursing home providing personal and nursing care to 54 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 64 people.

The service accommodates people across four separate ‘wings’ or ‘units’ each of which has separate adapted facilities. One of the wings specialise in people living with dementia.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Staff had been trained in the administration of medicines. People received their medicines in line with the prescriber’s instructions. Detailed guidance was in place for people receiving their medicines covertly. People receiving end of life care had anticipatory medicines in place.

Staff we spoke with confirmed they had received training in safeguarding and knew what action to take if they felt people were being abused. Recruitment files confirmed staff had been safely recruited.

Risks associated with people’s care and support needs had been identified and actions taken to minimise risks. Care plans were on an electronic system and reflected people’s care needs, including specific dietary needs.

People and relatives were positive about the caring nature of staff. They commented; “Yes, they treat you fine here, “Yes they are very attentive” and “They are very tolerant.” People were supported to attend external healthcare appointments when required. Staff we spoke with told us how they respected people and ensured their privacy and dignity was maintained.

We observed staff interacting in a positive way. People told us they enjoyed living at the service.

We received positive feedback from people who used the service and their relatives.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff received an induction when they first joined the service and regular training was completed and refreshed when needed. Staff told us they felt supported and received regular supervisions.

People were able to take part in regular activities. One relative commented, “They have good entertainment, animal days out quizzes bingo and singers. Its all optional and I must say, its well run.”

There was a complaints procedure in place. People told us they knew how to make a complaint. We saw a comments box in the main foyer. Complaints were responded to in a timely manner.

The provider had a quality auditing system in place. Accidents and incidents were documented and reviewed as necessary.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The previous rating for this service was good (published March 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

20 February 2017

During a routine inspection

Hazlemere Lodge is a care home that provides nursing care for up to 64 older people. The home is divided into four units. At the time of our inspection there were 62 people who used the service.

The service has a registered manager in place.

A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

During this inspection we found the provider had made improvements in the areas identified.

We received positive feedback from people and their relatives during our visit. One person told us,

“The staff are ever so kind and respectful to us. I can’t complain.”

People were kept safe at the service. Recruitment processes ensured only suitable staff were appointed. There were sufficient staff to support people. We observed staff treated people with kindness and respect. Relatives told us they were happy with the care their loved one received. Comments included, “The staff never have a cross word” and “[My relative] is safe and the staff are pleasant”. One relative told us they had viewed three other homes and that Hazlemere Lodge was by far the ‘best’ one.

Staff received supervision from their line manager and received training to ensure they were able to support people effectively. We saw evidence of training records to confirm this.

Medicines were administered in line with policy and procedures. Where people required their medicines to be given covertly, this was discussed with the relevant professionals involved in the person’s care and best interest decisions were made in accordance with legislation.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

People’s nutritional needs were met and appropriate measures put in place to address any weight loss. People received healthcare support they required. Staff told us, “We are able to support people at the end of their life with additional support from specialist nurses”.

People had their needs assessed and this was recorded in care plans. These outlined the support required and people’s preferences. Relatives provided specific life history information to ensure staff provided individualised care. Staff responded to people’s changing needs. Appropriate action was taken in the event of someone becoming unwell.

Activities were arranged for people to join in as a group or on an individual basis. The service had two activity coordinators to provide stimulation, enjoyment and social contact. We saw an exercise therapist attend on the second day of our inspection. People participated in their chairs. Those who were unable to join in observed and enjoyed the social contact.

The service monitored the quality of people’s care. Issues identified were addressed with action plans. Records were maintained effectively and staff had access to policies and procedures to guide their practice.

The service had informed us of incidents and notifications such as when a person died or safeguarding concerns.

11 12 November 2015

During a routine inspection

The inspection took place on 11 and 12 November 2015.

This was an unannounced inspection. The last inspection for Hazlemere Lodge was conducted on 6 June 2013 and the service was found to be fully compliant at that time.

Hazlemere Lodge is a care home that provides nursing for up to 64 older people. The home is divided into four units. At the time of our inspection there were 61 people living in the home.

The service has a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The home was in the process of recruiting care staff and was using agency staff to support people who live in the home. One person who lived in the home commented “Agency staff don’t always know what you need; this makes me shout at them.” The same person said they were irritated when they have an agency carer to support them.

We received positive feedback from relatives during our visit. Relatives we spoke with commented on the kind and caring approach of staff. People said that their privacy and dignity was respected and that staff spoke respectfully to them and relatives.

One person told us; “Staff are very friendly and caring; there’s friendliness and kindness here.” A relative whose loved one had been living in the home for two years said that. “Staff are really caring and there is great nursing care.” Another relative said that. “Care is good; X is very dependant, staff are competent.”

We were told there are no restrictions on relatives visiting people and on the day of our visit staff knew relatives by their personal name. Permanent staff and agency staff who had worked at the home for a while were knowledgeable about people’s histories and what was important to them such as family members.

We have made a recommendation about people’s life history and to explore likes and dislikes in relation to activities.

We identified breaches in relation to management of medication, records and infection control.

People did not have their medicine administered in line with the provider’s policy and procedures. People did not receive care that reflected their current needs and the providers infection control policy was not adhered to.

These constituted to breaches of the regulations of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.

1 May 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with people and observed care. We saw staff were attentive to people, treated people with respect and provided guidance and support when it was needed. People had access to a safe garden. People we spoke with expressed a positive view of the service. One person told us their general health had improved since moving there. Another said the staff provided the support they needed. We saw care plans included the information required to meet people's needs although we found weaknesses in some plans in recording some psychological and social aspects of care. Those may lead to some needs not being fully addressed.

We found the service's practice with regard to the control, storage and administration of medicines had improved since our last inspection. Our concerns which led us to a finding of non-compliance on that occasion had been addressed and we found the service complaint on this inspection. The service had arrangements to identify weaknesses in procedure and to minimise risk to people.

We looked at the safety and suitability of the premises. The service had four care areas and provided a service to older people needing nursing care, people with dementia, and general care and support to people. All bedrooms had en-suite facilities and each care area had a lounge, kitchenette/dining room and assisted bathroom. People had access to safe garden. We found the building to be well maintained and all areas we looked at were in good order, tidy and clean.

9, 12 November 2012

During a routine inspection

The people we talked with generally gave us favourable accounts of the service. One person told us 'The staff are excellent and friendly. They talk to everyone'. Another person said 'If you have any problems you go down to the office and they're very helpful. If I had any problem I would go to the person in charge'. One person told us the service was 'A quiet place'. A relative said 'the amount of activities has gone down in the last year and a half. A really good music person wasn't replaced when she left.' The person thought activities were 'a bit repetitive.' One person said they had been told because there was only one person on duty at night they were unable to have a shower first thing in the morning. Another said 'The night staff are very good. It's lovely. You couldn't wish for a better place. If I press my alarm they don't keep me waiting too long'. We received mixed reports about the food ' mainly it was felt about a perceived lack of choice.

We found people's needs were assessed and care was provided in line with their care plan. People were protected against the risk of abuse. Staff were supported in providing care to people. There was an effective system in place to regularly assess and monitor the quality of the care people were receiving. However, although the people we spoke with said they were happy with the way the service managed their medicines, we found people were not fully protected against the risks associated with medicines.

25 May 2011

During a routine inspection

People who used the service told us that staff respected them and treated them with dignity.

A carer visiting a person new to the home said that all their questions had been answered. They were given written information including on how to complain.

One person told us that the home 'was everything it said in the brochure' and they felt they had made the right decision to move there.

A number of people expressed praise for the staff telling us that they found them caring, attentive and supportive.

Some people in the dementia unit said there were not enough activities which interested them. At the same time, however, they also said they enjoyed going out into the garden.